BY INDY MAEALASIA
The threat of a nationwide teachers’ strike may be easing with ongoing negotiations between the Solomon Islands National Teachers Association (SINTA), the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD), and other key government officials.
SINTA, the body advocating for teachers’ welfare, issued a 28-day strike notice on July 22, 2025 over long-standing concerns affecting teachers.
These concerns are centered on seven key demands: improved job security, recognition of teachers’ experience, backdated salaries, new salary structure reviews, recognition of ECE, TVET and Disabilities teachers, allowances and benefits, and a review of education providers’ financial capacity.
The notice prompted a series of meetings involving union leaders, MEHRD, and officials from the office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMO)
SINTA’s General Secretary, Robert Lafisi confirmed that an initial meeting was held on Friday, July, 25 between SINTA and four PMO officials.
“This could be called a preliminary meeting, basically, to hear the association’s views,” Lafisi said.
Further negotiation followed on Wednesday, July 30,, 2025, where SINTA presented seven demands to the PMO, MEHRD, and the Permanent Secretaries of Public Service and Finance.
Lafisi, described the meetings as “positive”, noting that government officials responded well.
“With these further discussions on the 7 demands, their causes, we finally came up with resolutions.
“None of the demands were outrightly rejected,” Lafisi said.
Of the seven demands, demand 1 (job security), demand 4 (salary structure reviews), and demand 7 (review of education providers’ financial capacity) were immediately resolved, while a taskforce has been set up to continue work on the remaining demands (2,3,5 and 6)
SINTA remains confident that the negotiations will lead to a favorable outcome once the talks conclude.
“There is genuine interest and recognition from the government. What has been achieved so far will be handed over to a joint committee who will incorporate it into a master agreement that outlines how resolutions will be implemented,” Lafisi said.
As negotiations continue, Lafisi calls on all teachers nationwide to continue their work.
“I urge all teachers across the country to continue their duties as negotiations are still ongoing,” Lafisi added.
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